From sports passion to business startup

Many young people start their own businesses in the sports field, from community playgrounds, independent coaches to startups combining tourism and fitness. They not only pursue their passion but also contribute to the formation of a "sports economy" that is gradually emerging in Vietnam.

Start a business from passion

One afternoon in Hanoi, the small pickleball court by West Lake was bustling with laughter. This hybrid sport between tennis and table tennis was introduced to Vietnam a few years ago but is becoming a trend among young people. The founder of the playground is Mr. Nguyen Minh Quan (29 years old, Quang An ward), a former marketing employee.

Many young people start a business in the sports field from community playgrounds, independent coaches to startups combined with tourism .

"At first, I played to relieve stress. After sharing a short clip online, hundreds of people asked where to play. I realized I was facing a new opportunity," said Mr. Quan.

Immediately after that, Mr. Quan and two friends rented a field, invested in equipment, created a fanpage and organized free trial sessions to spread this sport.

After only one year, Mr. Quan's pickleball court has become a familiar meeting place for Hanoi office workers. On weekends, the court is fully booked, small tournaments are held periodically and sponsored by sports brands. "The revenue is not big, but I get to live with my passion and love," Mr. Quan shared.

In Da Nang, 26-year-old Tran Phuong Anh is also proving that sports business can be a sustainable career.

After working in the tourism industry, Phuong Anh founded the "Run & Chill" project, which combines running, yoga and local exploration. Every month, her group organizes a tour running along the coast or climbing Son Tra Mountain, combined with a workshop on nutrition and healthy lifestyle.

"I see that tourists today not only want to sightsee but also want to exercise and challenge themselves. I turned that into a sports tourism product. Run & Chill now has more than 3,000 online members, cooperating with many resorts to organize "running & relaxing" programs," Ms. Phuong Anh shared.

Self-study

Mr. Nguyen Quan Dung (25 years old, Cau Giay Ward, Hanoi) has loved football since his student days. Participating in many grassroots clubs, he realized the great potential in the demand for football clothing and accessories. He decided to set up a small company specializing in selling football clothing, shoes, gloves and accessories.

At first, things were not easy. From importing goods, choosing models to promoting products, Mr. Dung had to figure it out himself, learn online and gain practical experience from the team's activities. Gradually, thanks to his understanding of players' tastes and ability to connect with the community, his store became a familiar address for many semi-professional football teams in the area.

"I used to be an amateur player, but now football is my job and my joy in life. My model has created jobs for several other young people. Sports is not only a passion but can also become a career path for the young generation," said Mr. Dung.

The stories of Mr. Quan, Ms. Phuong Anh and Mr. Dung show that passion for sports can be developed into a career. They did not major in physical education and sports but they have self-studied, self-made and supported themselves with the community sports model.

Need support policies

Ms. Le Thi Hoang Yen, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Sports Department, affirmed: Starting a sports business is a potential direction but lacks a support system. For young people to truly turn their passion into a career, specific policies are needed, from training, loans, to sports infrastructure.

Ms. Le Thi Hoang Yen, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Sports and Physical Training Department, shared that specific policies are needed for young people to truly turn their passion into a career.

"Developed countries have viewed sports as a creative industry, where the State and private sectors participate together. In Vietnam, this model can start on a small scale such as jogging communities, mini sports fields, and online fitness startups, but needs to be clearly oriented for sustainable development," Ms. Yen commented.

Sports economics expert Pham Van Minh (Bac Ninh University of Sports) said: Young people are bringing new vitality to the sports industry. They are good at technology, understand customers and have the ability to create trends. However, they also need management thinking, financial knowledge and perseverance, because turning a hobby into a career has never been easy.

According to Mr. Minh, in fact, many localities such as Bac Ninh, Hanoi or Quang Ninh have pioneered in organizing races and sports festivals combined with tourism, thereby creating opportunities for young startups to participate in organizing, sponsoring and providing services. This is a positive signal for the formation of a "local sports economy" model, where sports are associated with culture, identity and tourism.

"In addition, the development of social networks opens up opportunities for individuals to pursue careers as coaches, community managers or sports content creators. A video instructing running, fat-loss exercises, or sports travel vlogs can become a significant source of income. This proves that sports are not just about competition or training, but also a creative, inspirational and effective business field," said Mr. Minh.

With the development of the market economy, Vietnamese sports are entering a period of strong commercialization and socialization. Many businesses and localities have considered sports as a tool to stimulate tourism, communication and attract investment.

The young generation plays a pioneering role in this. They not only change the way Vietnamese people approach sports but also prove that passion can become a career if they know how to combine expertise, technology and business.

According to a report by Allied Market Research (2024), the global sports economy is worth more than 620 billion USD, with an average growth rate of 7%/year. In Vietnam, fields such as running, golf, fitness, pickleball, and sports tourism are growing strongly, leading to the emergence of new startup models: independent clubs, personal trainers, nutrition products, and indigenous sports equipment.

Source: https://baoxaydung.vn/tu-dam-me-the-thao-den-khoi-nghiep-kinh-doanh-192251118194840067.htm